Selection will show intent

There was speculation ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Chittagong that hosts Bangladesh would go for an all-out spin attack on spin-friendly wickets, a strategy that brought success against England and Australia over the last two years when the home spinners utilised the helpful pitches to great effect.

But Shakib Al Hasan's absence due to injury from the Test series raised the question of who will lead the spin attack, with the biggest concern being the lack of proven wicket-takers in the side. That they eventually backed out from their initially stated intent to be aggressive was evident in the pitch that was laid out at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, which produced 1533 runs for just 24 wickets in a high-scoring draw.

Having initially picked six spinners in the squad, the Tigers opted for three in the team. There were two left-arm spinners in Taijul Islam and debutant Sunzamul Islam and an off-spinner in Mehedi Hasan Miraz. Mustafizur Rahman was the only pacer in the line up.

Unlike the Chittagong pitch which has historically been either a raging turner or a flat road and nothing much in between, the wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur -- the venue for the second Test from tomorrow -- has always had something for the bowlers. Of the 16 matches held at the venue, only three have ended in draws compared to six stalemates out of 17 matches in Chittagong.

According to sources close to the team, the Tigers are eyeing a result in the second Test. If they really want to play for a win, the inclusion of a second seamer to add variety to an attack weakened by Shakib's absence may be the way to go. With Mustafizur playing the role of the attacking seamer, Kamrul Islam Rabbi can be the workhorse as he has the ability to bowl long spells both with new ball and old. It will also be a statement of intent that they want to bowl Sri Lanka out twice.

However, selection decisions for the second Test hint that, like before the first Test, there may well be a difference between what those in the think-tank say they want to do and what they actually end up doing.

Sunzamul was excluded as was pacer Rubel Hossain -- hinting at pace not being high on the priority list -- while batsman Sabbir Rahman made a comeback to the squad. Mosaddek Hossain, making a comeback in Chittagong after a lengthy absence due to an eye problem, was dismissed in an ugly fashion in the first innings of that Test when he came charging to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath at a crucial moment, and he may have to make way for Sabbir.

Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak is unlikely to make a late-career Test comeback. Sunzamul's exclusion opens up a space and the players in the running seem to be Razzak, Rabbi and Nayeem Hasan -- the 17-year-old off-spinner who may be a left-field selection along the lines of Mehedi when he was blooded against England in October 2016 with great results.

There are options aplenty for the selectors and the team presented at the toss tomorrow will be a good indication of whether the Tigers want a Chittagong repeat or something more positive.